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Moulding youth for work

2 November 2009

Regional labour and employment office in Phuentsholing is conducting a pre-employment programme at Nazhoen Pelri.
Since its inception, more than 20 youth have been employed in the industries in Phuentsholing. According to Damchoe Wangdi, the head of the regional labour and employment office, the programme has until now enrolled 58 jobseekers, and 68 more have been enrolled under the apprenticeship training programme (ATP).
Youth under the ATP undergo attachment with industries in Samtse, Gomtu and Phuentsholing while those enrolled for pre-employment programme undergo attachment for six months in different industries in Phuentsholing.
Under the pre-employment programme, youth are mostly provided white-collar jobs such as marketing whereas under the ATP, the jobs are mostly that of technicians. “Most of them are enrolled here due to employment problems caused by lack of skills. So we attach them with industries for six months so that they gain some experience and develop skills,” said Damchoe.
While on attachment, the regional labour office bears half the salary for the youth (Nu 1,800) while the other half is paid by the companies they work for. The minimum payment is Nu 1,800 but, sometimes, the companies pay them more. Damchoe said the department has an understanding with some of the companies that agreed to regularize the services of pre-employment programme youth. However, it is not compulsory for the companies to recruit them.
Some of the pre-employment programme youth have joined the civil service after a stint with a company. “Unemployment is a result of a mismatch between skills and available jobs and not a lack of employment opportunities,” says a 20-year-old girl after a session on employment and job opportunities.
The labour office conducts talk sessions and group activities every week from Monday to Friday, which, according to Damchoe, helps improve communicative skills of the youth. Damchoe said that pre-employment programme is not only helping the youth get employed, but also making recruitment procedures for employers easier. “If a company wants to recruit employees, they need not advertise their jobs,” he said. “They can recruit our youth directly.”
Tashi Yoezer, 23, who has been working under pre-employment programme for two months, said that the programme helped him explore his field of interest.
Tashi, who completed class XII in 2006, said he could not get a job anywhere due to lack of experience that potential employers demanded.
Now that he is undergoing attachment under the pre-employment programme, he plans to join a vocational training institute after completing his attachment period.
“I feel that I am now ready to enter the job market,” he said. Pema Yuden, 23, from Zhemgang has been attending the programme for the last three months. She is awaiting her placement in Gelephu.
“The training programme has helped me a lot in tackling job interviews and challenges in life,” she said. “Soon I will be on attachment with a company through which I will gain more experience and skills.”
By the end of the programme, the trainees will be given recommendation letters that will help them find employment.

Regional labour and employment office in Phuentsholing is conducting a pre-employment programme at Nazhoen Pelri.

Since its inception, more than 20 youth have been employed in the industries in Phuentsholing. According to Damchoe Wangdi, the head of the regional labour and employment office, the programme has until now enrolled 58 jobseekers, and 68 more have been enrolled under the apprenticeship training programme (ATP).

Youth under the ATP undergo attachment with industries in Samtse, Gomtu and Phuentsholing while those enrolled for pre-employment programme undergo attachment for six months in different industries in Phuentsholing.

Under the pre-employment programme, youth are mostly provided white-collar jobs such as marketing whereas under the ATP, the jobs are mostly that of technicians. “Most of them are enrolled here due to employment problems caused by lack of skills. So we attach them with industries for six months so that they gain some experience and develop skills,” said Damchoe.

While on attachment, the regional labour office bears half the salary for the youth (Nu 1,800) while the other half is paid by the companies they work for. The minimum payment is Nu 1,800 but, sometimes, the companies pay them more. Damchoe said the department has an understanding with some of the companies that agreed to regularize the services of pre-employment programme youth. However, it is not compulsory for the companies to recruit them.

Some of the pre-employment programme youth have joined the civil service after a stint with a company. “Unemployment is a result of a mismatch between skills and available jobs and not a lack of employment opportunities,” says a 20-year-old girl after a session on employment and job opportunities.

The labour office conducts talk sessions and group activities every week from Monday to Friday, which, according to Damchoe, helps improve communicative skills of the youth. Damchoe said that pre-employment programme is not only helping the youth get employed, but also making recruitment procedures for employers easier. “If a company wants to recruit employees, they need not advertise their jobs,” he said. “They can recruit our youth directly.”

Tashi Yoezer, 23, who has been working under pre-employment programme for two months, said that the programme helped him explore his field of interest.

Tashi, who completed class XII in 2006, said he could not get a job anywhere due to lack of experience that potential employers demanded.

Now that he is undergoing attachment under the pre-employment programme, he plans to join a vocational training institute after completing his attachment period.

“I feel that I am now ready to enter the job market,” he said. Pema Yuden, 23, from Zhemgang has been attending the programme for the last three months. She is awaiting her placement in Gelephu.

“The training programme has helped me a lot in tackling job interviews and challenges in life,” she said. “Soon I will be on attachment with a company through which I will gain more experience and skills.”

By the end of the programme, the trainees will be given recommendation letters that will help them find employment.

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